Environment

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A tiny Spadefoot Toad sitting upon a small leaf that dwarfs it.

Spadefoot Toad Facts: Animals of North America

These tiny toads have several unique features, including vertically aligned eyes and special hind legs for burrowing underground.

December 5, 2017 17:35

A Blue-Tongued Skink sticks out its iconic blue tongue.

Blue-Tongued Skink: Animals of Oceania

With their blue tongues and short, stumpy legs, these curious-looking creatures are some of the most popular exotic reptilian pets today.

December 5, 2017 17:34

Unpredictable weather conditions such as severe rainfalls can have adverse effects on crop production.

What Are The Causes And Consequences Of Crop Failures?

Both natural and man-made factors might cause crop failures.

December 5, 2017 17:33

Gargoyle Gecko Facts: Animals of Oceania

The Gargoyle Gecko is an endemic species of New Caledonia, meaning it is to be found living in the wild nowhere else in the world.

December 5, 2017 17:33

Size of the elephant bird in comparison to a human and an ostrich.

Elephant Bird Facts - Extinct Animals of the World

The Elephant bird of Madagascar was the largest and heaviest bird to have ever walked the Earth.

December 1, 2017 17:56

Memorial for Scott Fischer near the Everest Base Camp. Editorial credit: Wojtek Chmielewski / Shutterstock.com

The 1996 Mount Everest Disaster

During 1996, eight climbers died when they were caught in a blizzard while attempting to descend from the summit of Mount Everest.

December 1, 2017 17:25

Samples of Diorite with their iconic "salt and pepper" coloration.

What is Diorite?

This relatively rare, dark-and-light speckled rock is formed through the crystallization of mixtures of magma beneath the Earth's surface.

December 1, 2017 16:20

An important energy source for many generations, coal is mined all across the globe. Unfortunately, its use has left the world with some very negative impacts.

What is Coal?

This combustible rock has played an immense role in human activity and technology.

December 1, 2017 15:44

Plates at the surface of the Earth move due to intense heat from the core of the planet.

How Do Tectonic Plates Move?

The Earth's tectonic plates move because of intense heat.

December 1, 2017 14:39

Unlike most rodents, pocket gophers spend most of their lives in isolation within their own subterranean realms.

Pocket Gopher Facts: Animals of North America

Rarely larger than 14 inches, the pocket gopher is a tiny and isolated rodent found in the US and Mexico.

December 1, 2017 13:01

A newborn Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. Many of these babies will not survive to adulthood, with this species of turtle classified as "vulnerable."

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Facts: Animals of North America

The smallest of the marine turtle species, these Central American turtles get their name from their olive color.

December 1, 2017 12:55

A Gray whale swims in the ocean off the coast of Mexico.

Gray Whale Facts: Animals of North America

Hunted to extinction in the North Atlantic in the 17th Century, these baleen whales still have a thriving population in the North Pacific today.

December 1, 2017 12:49

Many subspecies of the desert-dwelling Fringe-toed lizards have populations that are either Nearly Threatened, Theatened, or even Endangered.

Fringe-Toed Lizard Facts: Animals of North America

These interesting lizards get their name from the pointed scales on their toes, which let them move through sand effectively.

December 1, 2017 12:48

Mountain goats have managed to make homes all along much of the mountainous regions of the continent.

Mountain Goat Facts: Animals of North America

These highly adaptive mammals are known as much for being able to keep their balance on rocky ledges as they are for their iconic horns.

December 1, 2017 12:41

Moon Jellyfish Facts: Animals of North America

These adaptable creatures have been increasing in number off the coasts of North America and Europe for the past several decades.

December 1, 2017 12:38

Part of what makes these mammals so deadly is their incredible intelligence, which is comparable to that of dolphins.

Killer Whale Facts: Animals of North America

Also known as Orcas, these predators have a range encompassing virtually the entirety of the Earth's oceans.

December 1, 2017 12:17

Though they may resemble crabs, Horseshoe Crabs are actually more closely related to ticks, spiders, scorpions, and mites. Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Delaware Bay Coastal Project.

Horseshoe Crab - Animals of the Oceans

These "living fossils" might look like something extraterrestrial, but instead they are an ancient and thriving species.

December 1, 2017 12:15

Lesser Flamingos feed primarily on Spirulina.

What is a Heterotroph?

A heterotroph is the word used to describe organisms that ingest organic carbon.

November 30, 2017 17:51

Battle creek is an example of an incident name, in which the location is named after a specific incident.

What is a Toponym?

Toponym is the study of names of places, specifically their meanings, typology, use, and origins.

November 30, 2017 15:00

The sea grass blue carbon ecosystem has stored over 19.9 billion tons of carbon.

What Is Blue Carbon?

Carbon that is captured by the oceans of the world and the coastal ecosystems is called blue carbon.

November 29, 2017 16:49